resume
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Education
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Wesleyan University M.A. in Composition, (2019-2020)
Composition studies with Dr. Tyshawn Sorey, Alvin Lucier, Paula Matthusen, and Ron Kuivila
Oberlin Conservatory of Music B.M. in Composition and Cello (2016-2019)
Composition studies with Stephen Hartke, Elizabeth Ogonek, and Jesse Jones
Cello studies with Darrett Adkins
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Residencies
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Avaloch Farm Music Institute Residency, (2023 & 2025)
Stone Residency, (2024)
Ensemble Evolution at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, (2018 & 2019)
International Workshop in Jazz & Creative Music at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
SoundSCAPE: Composition and Performance Exchange
The Icelandic Chamber Music Festival (2016-19)
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Work Experience
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Present - Assistant Conductor for the Creative Improvisors Orchestra - Creative Music Studio
2023-present - Cellist for Hadestown on Broadway
2019-present - Freelance cellist, composer-arranger, producer, mixing engineer, video editor
2014-present - Private Cello, Violin, Guitar, Composition, Music Theory Instructor
2019-23 - Cello sub for the International Contemporary Music Ensemble
2022-23 - Ensemble member of Yoshiko Chuma's School of Hard Knocks
2021-23 - Public School Music Teacher - Violin, Guitar, Songwriting, Music Theory, Ear-training, Composition (PS 21, PS 135, PS 307, Little Sun People, Tompkins Childcare Center) - the Noel Pointer Foundation
2021 - Head Audio Engineer & House Musician for the Payomet Performing Arts Center
2020 - Co-composer and recording artist for Kingdom of Silence, a Showtime documentary
2020-21 - Teaching Artist for Tonal Harmony & Intro to Experimental Music - Wesleyan University
2016-19 - Program Director, communications manager, & director of PR for Make Music Day Festival - Cleveland, OH
2019 - Composer for Poetry America - Harvard University Series
2017-19 - Chamber Music Coach for the Oberlin Community Music School
2016-17 - Assistant Director, Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra's Young Composers Program
2015-17 - Resident Teaching Artist for the Salurinn Tónlistarhús - Kopavogur, Iceland
2017 - Dance Teacher for Neos Dance Theater's Outreach Program
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Selected Performances
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2025 - Bard College - Hudson, NY
2025 - Subscape Festival - Baltimore, MD
2025 - Knockdown Center - Brooklyn, NY
2025 - Birdland Jazz Club - Manhattan, NY
2025 - Vision Fest at Roulette Intermedium - Brooklyn, NYC
2025 - JetLAG Music Festival - Downsville, NY
2024 - Lincoln Center Outdoors - Manhattan, NY
2024 - Solo Residency at The Stone - Manhattan, NY
2024 - Constellation Hall - Chicago, IL
2023 - Victoriaville Jazz Festival - Victoriaville, CA
2023 - Chelsea Factory - Manhattan, NY
2023 - Pioneer Works - Brooklyn, NY
2023-present - Hadestown on Broadway - Manhattan, NY
2021-present - Roulette Intermedium - Brooklyn, NY
2022 - Winter Jazz Fest - NYC
2022-present - ISSUE Project Room - NYC
2022 - The Kingston Arts Society - Kingston, NY
2022 - PS 21 - Chatham, NY
2022 - The Old Dutch Church - Kingston, NY
2020-present - Elastic Arts - Chicago, IL
2018-19 - Banff Center for Arts and Creativity - Calgary, Canada
2018 - Smart Museum - Chicago, IL
2016 - Alice Tully Hall - Manhattan, NY
2015-17 - Salurinn Tónlistarhús - Kópavogur, Iceland
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Scholarships & Grants
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2014 - NPR's From the Top Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award
2014 - YoungArts
2017-2019 - MLK Grant
2017 - Flint Initiative Grant, Oberlin College & Conservatory
2018 - XARTs Grant, Oberlin College & Conservatory
2021 - Honors Grant, Wesleyan University
2021 - Summer Research Fund, Wesleyan University
2022 - Avaloch Farm Music Institute, Artist in Residence
2024 - The Stone at The New School, Artist in Residence
2025 - Cowan Creek Mountain Music School, Artist in Residence
2025 - Avaloch Farm Music Institute, Artist in Residence
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Selected Recent Work
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Looks Far Women by Aliya Ultan - 2026
Sophomoric Solo Album to be released on Kou Records
Recorded by Randall Dunn, produced by Randall Dunn & Charmaine Lee at Circular Ruin - Brooklyn, NY
Beasts Everywhere by GNR8RZ - 2026
Upcoming album release with Simon Hanes (guitar, bass), G. Calvin Weston (drums), and Anthony Coleman (piano).
Recorded and produced by Mark Urselli at Eastside Sound - Manhattan, NY
Witch Hunt by Nocturnal Cellist - 2025
Debut solo album
Self recorded, produced, mixed, mastered, and distributed
Brooklyn, NY and beyond
Violently Fading by Seven Times Infinity - 2025
Debut album 'Violently Fading' by Aliya Ultan (voice, cello, compositions), Javen Lara (voice, viola, compositions), Wesley Michalski (tenor sax), Adam Turray (guitar), Teté Leguía (bass), Kevin Eichenberger (bass), and Jon Starks (drums)
Recorded and produced by Randall Dunn at Applehead Studios - Woodstock, NY and Circular Ruin - Brooklyn, NY
EGGSHELLS by EGGSHELLS - 2024
Debut trio album featuring Taiga Ultan (flute & voice) and Ross Lewicki (piano)
Recorded by Andres Abenante at Jaybird Studio
Produced by Aliya Ultan
Demos by Aliya Ultan - 2024
Solo record of songs - cello, voice, guitar, bass, synths
Self recorded, produced, mixed, mastered, and distributed
Brooklyn, NY and beyond
Live by Aliya Ultan - 2023
Debut solo album
Self recorded, produced, mixed, mastered, and distributed
Brooklyn, NY and beyond
RESIDUUM for cello and trash - 2020-23
Commissioned by Katinka Kleijn
Film premiere at Roulette Intermedium as part of the International Contemporary Music Ensembles New Works Concert Series - 2023
Live performance at Chicago Frequency Festival - 2020
DOWN for solo performer - 2021-23
Part 1 premiered online - Wesleyan Thesis Recital - 2021
Part 2 premiered at Mise En Place as part of the Invocation Series - 2023
ODE for soloist and orchestra - 2020
Premiered in Adzenyah Hall at Wesleyan University
Become a House for 3 dancers, cello, tenor sax, 2 trombones, 2 bassoons, and piano - 2019
Premiered at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Nova: A Contemporary Circus Show for two acrobats and musician - 2018
Premiered at Oberlin College & Conservatory
Powder Prayer for Shadow Planet for soloist (voice & cello), 2 trumpets, 2 bass clarinets, alto sax, bari sax, 2 violins, viola, cello, bass, 2 electric guitars, 2 percussionists - 2018
Commissioned by Tim Weiss of the Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble
Malady of the Infinite: The Separation Body and Psyche for solo voice, cello choir, bass, and percussion - 2018
Funded by the FIGs grant
Premiered at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music
LUTALICA (wanderer) for solo viola - 2018
Premiered in Jordan Hall at the New England Conservatory
Blood Knot for electric guitar, three celli, double bass, piano, live electronics and glass percussion - 2017
Collaborative piece with aerial acrobatics, dance, improvisation and audience participation
Some Wounds are Ovals, Some are Opals for solo cello and fixed media - 2017
Recorded by Jeffrey Zeigler
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Selected Earlier Work
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Should We? (change) for solo cello and concert band - 2015
Commissioned by conductor Dr. Matthew Schlomer, Interlochen Arts Academy
Bura for voice and brass octet - 2014
YoungArts
w.J.e. for flute, violin, and cello - 2012
Performed live on Interlochen Public Radio's Classical Station
Winner of the MMEA Competition'
Illusions for 4 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, double bass, and two percussionists - 2010
Premiered by the New York Philharmonic as part of the Very Young Composers Program